Booth strode down the length of one of the many corridors of the US Department Of Justice. He stopped outside a solid wooden door, with a silver nameplate, fixed level with his eyeline.

Caroline Julian
Asst US Attorney

He took a deep breath and lifted his arm, balling his hand to knock when the door opened suddenly. Caroline Julian stood in the doorway, glaring at him "You took your damned time getting here. Now get that pretty face in here and close the door behind you Cherie" she said, turning her back and stomping back to her desk.

She turned as he closed the door. "Do you see these?" she banged a pile of blue binders on her desk. "These are my cases for this week. All of these." she said as she banged her hand on the folders again. "And do you see those?" she pointed at another pile of orange folders on the floor "They are my cases from last week. Do you know what the difference is?"

"Uh, those are in blue folders?" Booth said, shrugging.

"There is no difference. They're all pending. All of them." Caroline said, the frustration in her voice apparent. "There is a stomach flu going around this building. It has affected approximately fifty percent of my staff. And frankly, from the way I'm feeling Cherie? I'm about ninety percent certain it has affected me. I feel like I have two squirrels wrestling in my lower intestine, and my head is pounding and I don't want to be here. Except I have to get your report before I can go home and release the squirrels. Now, tell me what you need to tell me and then leave. And don't breathe if you can help it. " she said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Booth quickly gave his report to Caroline and signed off on the paperwork.

She walked, or more correctly, waddled, towards the door and turned back to face him. "If you need me? Well my advice is don't need me. I'm going home to"

"Release the squirrels?" Booth said, a grin on his face.

"If I didn't love you so much Seeley Booth, I'd." her face blanched "Oh. I gotta go" she said as she disappeared through the door leaving Booth laughing so hard tears were running down his face.